Moving with a newborn - need opinions!

[Jem75]

Hi - my husband and I currently live in Chicago but decided we want to get back to the West coast to raise our family. The weather is far better than having to be in doors for 6 months out of the year. Hubby asked last night if we should relocate before* the baby comes - and I am trying to weight the pros/cons. I really love my DRs and where we will have this baby in Chicago - but Marin County (near SF has great facilities too). I also want to start ordering the nursery furniture - and it would be ideal to have everything set up in a place we stay - as opposed to setting up in Chicago then re-doing it a few months later in CA. If we stay in Chicago - I want to wait for the baby to be at least 3 months b/f moving.

Does anyone have opinions on when it is easiest to make a life transition like this? Some friends have said to move before the baby. I hate bending over to pick up a sock - I can imagine what packing would be.

Opinions on this?

[depressed748]

I am planning to move into my house on the 12-22 if everything goes well...because I want to be settled in and get his room set up and stuff. I would say for you as well if you are going to move then do it before. I know it is going to be hard because you have to find a new doctor and stuff.

[Irish741]

Well from everyone I have talked to everyone says moving before the baby arrives is the best. The last thing you want to do is add more stress to a big move with having to breast feed or take care of a crying baby. My vote would be to move as soon as you can.

If/when you do move I would like to say "welcome to the bay area" I live just over the water in Dublin (40 min east of SF). I actually work downtown. I would think anytime in the next couple of months would be good to move. We have been experieincing some rather dry weather so far (DH is not happy about that since he sees every dry weekend shrinking his skiing opportunities in Tahoe). I use to work in Novato a few years back and I know that Marin area, though beautiful and green only gets that way thru many many rain storms. It can get a little harry sometimes in the spring (especially in San Rafael where the hwy can get a little flodded sometimes....another reason why I would move sooner rather than later. Having an infant and moving on a rainy weekend would be the pits.

Well best of luck anytime you move...if you need any bat area info let me know. :)

[justice6920]

I just moved as well... thankfully not to another state but I still wanted to get it done and have everything in its place before the baby comes.... If it were me I would do it before the baby comes! That way all you have to adjust to is a new little one and not being a new mommy and packing and adjusting to a new place.

[ashiepooh]

I'd say before.  Since I just moved, and I could only pack the light things, and still can't unpack!  DO IT BEFORE!!!!!

It's more stressful when the baby is born, because unpacking becomes more difficult, and then the entire process of setting everything up is harder.

[Jem75]

haha - your note made me laugh. we talking a lot about it this weekend - but no final decision yet. stay tuned! I agree about what you say though - there are so many pros/cons to both....but it would overall be easy to be all set when baby arrives.

[ovaz129]

I am basing this solely on what *I* would want to do :)  First off... Marin is great.  That is where my husband was born and raised (eventually moved to Orinda), but I am seriously JEALOUS that you are wanting to move there!

If it were me, I would want to move BEFORE the baby comes.  Just as you said, I would want everything done PRIOR to the baby being born.  That way, I would be able to enjoy the baby more and not have to be thinking in the back of my mind about how I will have to pack all of the stuff up, re-set everything up in the new home, etc.  For me, it would be a serious distraction during a time that is supposed to be enjoyable (not that it wouldn't be enjoyable if you waited to move after, but I would enjoy that time more knowing that I wouldn't be having to do everything all over again!)  

Hope that makes sense... good luck with your decision.  Like I said... JEALOUS... totally JEALOUS :)  Eventually, my husband and I would like to move to Marin.  It really is a fantastic place to raise a family.